Construction of electric tramways.



S. G. BENNETT. OONSTEUGTION OI ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS. APPLICATION FILED NOV.16, 1905.

921 ,665. Patented May 18, 1909.

v 4 SHEETS-8HEET 1.

Wifiwsses.

zvmwv z S. G. BENNETT.

CONSTRUCTION OF BLEGTRIG TRAMWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1905.

921,665. Patented May 18, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QIIII 4 s. e. BENNETT. CONSTRUCTION OF BLECTEIC TRAMWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 16, 1906. 18

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

THE mmms parses 60., mswcmu, n. c.

s. G. BENNETT. CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 16, 1905- Y 921 ,665, Patented May 18, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

' first one.

SAMUEL GREEN BENNETT, OF HEATH TOWN, WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

CONSTRUCTION OF ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

Application filed November 16, 1905.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Serial No. 287,579.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL GREEN BEN- NETT, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Clyde House, Heath Town, olverhampton, in thecounty of Stafford, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in the Construction of Electric Tramways; and I herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same.

This invention relates to an electric tram way provided with a shallowconduit having switches arranged at suitable intervals, each of theseswitches being formed with a projecting lever which works in the conduiton a central spindle communicating with and actuating the internalmechanism of the switch. The normal position of these levers issubstantially vertical and so long as they remain in this position theelectric current is cut o f from the ma n cable. To the bogie of thetram car is connected a plow which operates the switch levers. This plowmay be similar both in construction and in the means of attachment tothe bogie, to the plow described in my British Patent 5154 of 1900, butas it is not used for the purpose of collecting the electric current itdoes not require to be insulated and therefore may be attached to thebogie in a simpler manner than. in the patent above referred to. hen theplow comes into contact with the switch levers, it moves them from theirvertical, to their horizontal, position, and this movement of the leversis communicated to the mechanism contained in the switches and makes theelectrical contacts which permits the currents to pass through theswitches while the plow remains in contact with the switch levers. iVhenthe plow releases the levers they automatically return. to their normalvertical position and cut off the current. Each switch is electricallyconnected to, a corresponding stud placed between the tram rails. Thesestuds are of hard iron or steel suitably inserted in molded blocks ofstone or reconstructed granite. When the plow engages a switch lever thecurrent circuits through the switch to the stud which thus becomeselectrified. Beneath the tram car is suspended a collecting skateusually made of hard steel of any suitable form and as in the case ofthe plow it is always sufficiently long to come in contact with thesecond stud before leaving the The electric current passes from theswitch to the stud and thence through the collecting skate to the motorsin the tram cars.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the nature of the invention.

Figure 1, is a view showing the method of attaching the plow to the tramcar, and the arrangement of the switches in the street boxes. Fig. 2, isa vertical section through the conduit and the center of one of theswitch boxes. Fig. 3, is a diagram of the system showing the connectionbetween the live wire, switch b x and studs. Fig. 4, is a section on theline (L(b Fig. 2, showing the arrangement by which the metallictransmittors are fixed to the live main cable and the cable whichcommunicates with the stud. Fig. 5, is a side elevation of the switchin. section on line 6*?) Fig. 2. Fig. 6, is a plan of the switch. Fig.7, shows the lever of the switch in various positions. Figs. 8 and 9 aredetails of the parts of the switch. Figs. 10 and 11 are details of thelever and spindle. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the guide spindle.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout thespecification and drawings.

The main cable B is supplied with current from the main generator B andto this cable the switches H are electrically connected as shown at A.The electric current passes periodically through the switches by meansof the cables C, to the studs D, where it is collected by the skateattached to the tram car, and transmitted to the tram car motors A Thetrack B is provided with a slot E, in which the plow F, works in ashallow conduit G, of substantially the depth of the tram rails. Eachswitch H is incloscd by a switch casing H bolted to the rails byfastening plates I and is placed in a street box Z, with the lever Bprojecting into the shallow conduit. The street boxes Z project belowthe shallow conduit G and the lever end of each street box is providedwith a drain J, which communicates with the main sewer to prevent theaccumulation of water or mud in the conduit and street boxes.

The plow F may be mounted and fitted to the tram car in the mannerdescribed in my British Patent 5154 of 1900, in. which the plow ismounted upon an arm at each end of the car, the arms being mounted upona pin or spindle. A simple method of attachment, however, is shown inFig. 1, in which each of the projecting arms K are supported at one endon a projection L, forming a continuation of the mounting of the traincar axle box and at the other end M, it is at- Z tached to the nose orarm Q of the plow. To insure its easy running, it carries a roller N,which engages the track rail. To provide for curves which may exist inthe track B, a slot 0 is provided in one or both of the projecting armsK, so that the plow can automatically adapt itself as regards length toj the requirements of the curve. T he plow is shown in F1 1 as connectedto a single b ogre car and the small slot shown. in the drawing will besuliicient to allow for adjustn'ientf when traveling around the curves.T he plow .can be attached to the front and back bogies of a tram carwhere two 'bogies are used but in the case of the plow being conmade toassume a horizontal position by the nected to a two bogie car,suflicient allowanec must be made for ustment either by increasing thelength of the slot 0, or bv havfor wear the transmltters h are mademoving a slot at each end of the arm K. The

plow is usually so constructed as to possess the necessary flexibilityto adapt itself readily to any curves which may be present in the track,and is provided with suitable nose pieces as shown at Q, the nose piecesbeing preferably at such an angle as will enable the plow to engage andturn the switch .levers.

When the nose piece engages the i switch lever it moves the latter intoand maintains it in a horizontal position until the plow has passed. theswitch lever, the latter resumes its normal vertical position andautomatically cuts off the electric current from the stud.

When the plow has passed plow, the projecting piece 71, attached to thebridle rises until the U-s'haped contact piece 6 is forced into contactwith the two transmitters 7b. This contact causes the electric currentto pass through the contact piece e to the stud where it is collected bythe skate. l v hen the car has passed, the switch lever R is releasedand the current is cut ofi by the automatic action of the switch. Toprovide a uniform contact and to compensate able in a verticaldirection, each of them being kept in this vertical position. in itsseating by means of a spiral spring i. Vihen the contact piece e comesinto contact with the two transmitters the transmitters move verticallyand accommodate themselves to any variations of lift which may occurthrough the contact motion of the lever H. Although the cables are fixedto the interior of the transmitters their flexibility prevents anydifficulty arising from the movement of the transn'iitters.

To insure the return of the switch lever R 5 to its normal verticalposition a projecting The mechanism of the switches by which Q thecurrent is controlled is as follows The lever R is formed with a spindleS, which projects through the switch, as shown in the drawings, and isprovided with a bushing S in the switch casing H Near the end of thespindle S farthest removed from the lever R, is firmly fixed a cam T asshown in Fig. 5, and in detail in Figs. 8 and 9. This cam T has twoprojecting arms U and V and works within a bridle VJ, preferably made ofgun metal. F and its projecting arms and slides in suitable guidesformed in the body of the switch box. hen the lever R has been depressedby tho plow, it rotates the spindle S, and

The bridle W surrounds the cam when the lever B resumes its normalposispring 7: so that when. the plow releases the the upper ends ofthese two insulated charm I cylinder 9' is provided at right angles tothe lever spindle S. The cylinder contains a spring which is looselymounted on a guide spindle Z as shown in Figs. 7 and 12. The outer endof the cylinder is protected by a cover m which has an annularprojecting portion in which the adjacent end of the spring 70 is looselyplaced, the guide spindle Z working in the same, as shown in Fig. 7. Onthe flat part S of the spindle S is placed a cam 11, having a squarehole "a to receive the flat part S of the spindle. The cam n is acontinuation of the casting forming'the cam T as shown in Fig. 9. Thehead R of the guide spindle Z abuts on the face of the cam n and 1 whenthe lever R is moved by the plow out of its normal vertical position,the cam it forces back the guide spindle and compresses the switch leverB the spring it will cause the lever to assume its normal position andautomatically cut oil the electric current from the switch. In order tocompensate for wear a spiral spring 0 is placed on the spindle of thelever as shown in Fig. 2. The switch is contained in its casing or boxwhich is practically water tight and in order to prevent the leversbeing interfered with through this slot, a guard p of L-iron of suitablelength, as shown in Fig. 2, is generally bolted to the tram rail. Thisof course necessitates the arms carrying the plow or the nose piece Qbeing cranked as shown in the drawings to pass the guards p. Thefunction or duty to be performed by the plow F differs from that of theplow described in my British Patent 5154 of 1900 since in the presentapplication it is employed for the purpose of actuating the switches,whereas in the case of my British patent it was for the purpose ofcollecting and transmitting the electric current.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1 Anelectric tramway comprising a track, a main current supply wire, aplurality of contact studs disposed longitudinally of the track, meansattached to the car for collecting current from the contact studs, aswitch box for each contact stud, a switch contained in each switch boxconsisting of an oscillating spindle extending laterally across theswitch box and through one side thereof, a lever at tached to the outerend of the spindle, a cam secured to the spindle within the switch box,a bridle surrounding the cam vertically mov able in the switch box, aninsulating piece attached to the upper surface of the bridle, twocontact bars, supported in the switch box above the insulating piece,insulated from one another and from the switch box, a U- shaped contactpiece carried by the insulating piece for contacting with the contactbars and connecting them when the bridle is in its uppermost position, asecond cam mounted on the spindle and a spring pressed plunger engagingthe last mentioned cam for holding the spindle in the position in whichthe U- shaped contact piece is out of contact with the contact bars,conductors connecting one contact bar of each switch with the maincurrent supply wire, conductors connecting the other contact bar of eachswitch with a contact stud, and means carried by the car for operatingthe levers of the switch spindies.

2. An electric tramway comprising a track, a main current supply wire, aplurality of contact studs disposed longitudinally of the track, meansattached to the car for collect ing current from the contact studs, aswitch box for each contact stud, a switch container in each switch boxconsisting of an oscillating spindle extending laterally across theswitch box and through one side thereof, a lever attached to the outerend of the spindle, a camsecured to the spindle within the switch box, abridle surrounding the cam vertically movable in the switch box, aspring for holding the bridle in its lowermost position, an insulatingpiece attached to the upper surface of the bridle, two contact bars,supported in the switch box above the insulating piece, insulated fromone another and from the switch box, a U-shaped contact piece carried bythe insulating piece for contacting with the contact bars and connectingthem when the bridle is in its uppermost position, a second cam mountedon the spindle and a spring pressed plunger engaging the last mentionedcam for holding the spindle in the position in which the U-shapedcontact piece is out of contact with the contact bars, conductorsconnecting one contact bar of each switch with the main current supplywire, conductors connecting the other contact bar of each switch with acontact stud, and means carried by the car for operating the levers ofthe switch spindles.

3. Anelectric tramway comprising a track, track rails for the track, aplurality of contact studs positioned between the track rails at equaldistances from one another longitudinally of the track rails, a car,means attached to the car for collecting current from the contact studs,a channel formed in the track parallel to the track rails, a plowattached to the car and extending into the channel, a main currentsupply wire, a pinrality of street boxes corresponding in numher to thecontact studs embedded in the track adjacent to the channel, switchboxes contained in the street boxes, switches contained in the switchboxes, each switch consisting of an oscillating spindle extendinglaterally across the switch box and through the side thereof adjacent tothe channel, a lever attached to the outer end of the spindle andextending upward into the channel in the path of the plow, a cam securedto the spindle Within the switch box, a bridle surrounding the camvertically movable in the switch box, an insulating piece attached tothe upper surface of the bridle, two contact bars, supported in theswitch box above the insulating piece, insulated from one another an dfrom the switch box, a U-shaped contact piece carried by the insulatingpiece for contacting with the contact bars and connecting them when thebridle is in its uppermost position, a second cam mounted on the spindleand a spring pressed plunger engaging the last mentioned cam for holdingthe spindle in the position in which the U-shaped con tact piece is outof contact with the contact bars, conductors connecting one contact barof each switch with the main current supply wire, and conductorsconnecting the other contact bar of each switch with a contact stud.

4. An electric tramway comprising a track, track rails for the track, aplurality of contact studs positioned between the track rails at equaldistances from one another longitudinally of the track rails, a car,means attached to the car for collecting current from the contact studs,a channel formed in the track parallel to the track rails, a plowattached to the car and extending into the channel, a main currentsupply wire, a plurality of street boxes corresponding in number to thecontact studs embedded in the track adjacent to the channel, switchboxes contained in the street boxes, switches contained in the switchboxes, each switch consisting of an oscillating spindle extendinglaterally across the switch box and tl'irough the side thereof adjacentto the channel, a lever attached to the outer end of the spindle andextending upward into the channel in the path 01' the plow, a camsecured to the spindle Within the switch box, a bridle surroundingthee-am vertically movable in the switch box, a spring for holding thebridle in its lowermost position, an insulating piece attached to theupper surface of the bridle, two contact bars, supported in the switchbox above the insulating piece insulated from one another and from theswitch box, a Ushaped contact piece carried. by the insulating piece forcontacting with the contact bars and connecting them when the bridleisin its uppermost position, a second cani mounted on the spindle and aspring pressed plunger engaging the last mentioned cam for holding thespindle in. the position in which the U- shaped contact piece is out olcontact with the contact bars, conductors connecting one contact bar o'leach switch with the main current supply wire, and conductors connectingthe other contact bar ol' each switch with a contact stud.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set 11]) hand in the presence of twoWitnesses.

AMUEL GREEN BENNETT. Witnesses:

Vihuxrnn A. E. BARTLAM, JUS'IUS Jonas.

